Ashtown Castle

In Phoenix Park, the largest urban recreational park of any European capital, stands the protected landmark Ashtown Castle. This four-story tower house with a rectangular floor plan probably dates from the time of King Henry VI and was already documented as such in the early 17th century. The building originally served as a fortified residence, with the lower floors used for household purposes and the upper ones for living quarters and the Great Hall. The roof area once held the defenses. Ownership changed hands several times over the centuries, with later occupants including the Irish Under-Secretary and, subsequently, the diplomatic missions of the United States and the Vatican. After a comprehensive restoration in the 1980s, during which the later extension was demolished, only the old castle core remains today, with its gardens tracing the outline of the former addition.